Sole pressing machine



April 1958 J. s. KAMBORIAN 2,828,496

SOLE PRESSING MACHINE Filed May 27, 1953 I 6 Sheets-Sheet l 1711262802 i W 1 1 4606 ilfanzoryz'am April 1, 1958 J. s. KAMBORIAN 2,828,496

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trite SOLE PRESSING MACHINE Jacob S. Kamborian, West Newton, Mass.

Application May 27, 1953, Serial No. 357,764

9 Claims. (Cl. 12-36) This invention relates to apparatus of the kind for applying conforming pressure to shoe soles wherein opposed members are provided between which one or more shoes and soles to be attached thereto may be placed for applimulti-station machines, which machine has certain other advantages in that it is adapted to operate on two pairs of shoes at each operation, it has both manual and fully automatic control, it has an adjustable pressure range, means for improving the wrapping of the diaphragm at the forepart of the shoe without applying an undue amount of pressure and/ or wrapping to the heel end thereof, means for improving the life of the diaphragm, improved hold-down means for the shoes during the application of pressure which distributes the pressure at the forepart of the shoe in such fashion as to minimize damage thereto and to appliques and the like located thereon,

and improved locating means for making it practically impossible to improperly locate the shoes on the diaphragm. Other advantages reside in fewer operating parts to get out of order, in a smaller and more compact apparatus which takes up very little floor spaced and a frame and operating parts which may be cast or fabricated at a minimum cost.

As herein illustrated, the machine has two pad boxes and cooperating shoe hold-down devices for holding the shoes clamped against the pad boxes, the pad boxes and hold-down means being mounted on a frame in. such fashion that movement of the pad boxes and hold-down means relative to each other alternatively apply conforming pressure to a pair of shoes resting on one pad box while simultaneously releasing the conforming pressure from a pair resting on the other pad box. One of the pad boxes is fixed and the other is movable to and from the fixed pad box, the latter carrying the holddown means for the fixed pad box and being movable therewith to won-conforming position at one extremity of its movement. A fixed hold-down means fast to the frame is cooperabie with the movable pad box at the opposite extremity of its movement. box and appendant hold-down means are mounted for vertical movement on the frame on a carriage slidable in ways on the frame, and its lower end is operably connected to a hydraulic piston located at the base of the frame.

Each pad box is designed to take two shoes. However, it is to be understood that for factories with lower output a smaller machine may be employed involving the same construction wherein each pad box takes but one shoe. The pad boxes are of the kind having an elastic diaphragm stretched across the top of a rigid open topfluid-containing receptacle, the construction of the box The movable pad S P fi cc 2,828,496 Patented Apr. 1, 1958 being such that the conforming action is effected by sinking a shoe into the diaphragm with an accompanying swelling due to upward displacement of the contained fluid. As illustrated, the pad boxes are filled with a substantially non-compressible fluid and the shoes are pressed into the diaphragm by the hold-down means so as to sink the shoes into the diaphragm, causing the elastic diaphragm to swell upwardly about the shoes and to conform accurately to the bottom and side walls thereof.

In order to improve the life of the diaphragm and to control the swell during the application of attaching, leveling and/or molding pressure a shield is superposed on the diaphragm marginally thereof to hold that portion of the diaphragm not actually useful in applying the pressure down, and is in the form of a rigid plate having a cut-out, the perimeter of which skirts the shoes resting on the diaphragm, leaving a good margin of the flexible diaphragm unconstrained entirely around the shoes and between them.

In the preferred construction a support is located within the pad box below the diaphragm at the heel end to limit depression of the heel endof the shoe into the diaphragm and at the same time to permit a limited amount of wrap around at the heel. A shallow space is left between the top of the support and the underside of the diaphragm.

The hold-down means in one form comprises a pair of blocks, one for the toe and one for the heel, mounted on a support pivotally hung above the pad box. The support is yieldably held in nearly horizontal position by a spring when not in use. The blocks are adjustable to and from each other on the support for various size lasts, and, since there are two jacks for each pad, they are interconnected by a suitable chain drive so that adjustment of one effects the corresponding adjustment of the other.

An alternative form of hold-down is provided for distributing the pressure at the forepart and also for locating the shoe properly on the diaphragm. In this form a saddle-like member is substituted for the toe block which has an upwardly concave pad adapted to have contact with substantially the entire surface of the forepart of the shoe, and is yieldably constructed and mounted so that when pressure is applied thereto it will conform to the forepart of the shoe and hence will distribute the pressure evenly and uniformly over the entire surface thereof.

The hydraulic piston is operable in a cylinder and hydraulic fluid is supplied to the cylinder to operate tin? piston through ports located at opposite ends of the cylinder, the fluid at one end being displaced through the port at that end by fluid entering at the opposite end and vice versa. A master valve controls the flow of fluid to the ends of the cylinder and is a three position one, that is, has a neutral position at which the flow is checked and end positions at which flow is delivered to one or the other end of the cylinder. The master valve in one arrangement is manually controlled to shift it to one of the end positions and automatically shiftabie to a neutral position from an end position. Automatic shifting of the valve to neutral position is effected by a solenoid operably connected to the valve, the solenoid in turn being energized by a microswitch having a pressure-sensitive element, the pressure-sensitive element in turn being responsive to a predetermined pressure in the pad box to energize the solenoid. The pressure-sensitive element is located in one wall of the pad box and will return the master valve to its neutral position, thereby holding the pressure at said pressure until the valve is thrown to the opposite end position; In another arrangement fully automatic operation of the device may be had by interposingin-thesolenoid circuit a motor driven'timing cam.

It is to be understood that this machine is useful not only in ,suchshoe manufacturing operations as sole lay- "ing, sole'leveling and sole attaching but alsofor molding of-unattached soles and the'like whether of leather or composition and/or within the presenceof heat.

The'invention will now be described in greater-detail -with reference to the accompanying.drawings,"wherein:

Fig. l is a side elevation of'the machine;

-Fig. 2 is a frontelevation'as seenfrom the left side -of'Fig. '1;

Fig.3 is ahorizontal section taken on the line '3'3 of Fig. 2;

- Fig. 4 is'a horizontal section'taken on the line .454 of Fig; 2 with the pad boxes omitted;

Fig.5 is'a wiring 'diagramfor the solenoid controlled manual switch;

Fig. 6 is a wiring diagram for automatic control; Figs.7, 8-and9 'show diagrammatically the control valve for delivering fluid to the operating cylinder;

Fig. 10 is a plan view of a pad box with masking plate;

Fig. 11 isavertical-section taken on the line 11-11 of Fig. 10;

"Fig. 12 is a f-ragmentaryplan View showing the linkage connecting the solenoid'to the control valve;

Fig.'l3 is aplan view of'an-alternative'form of'toe hold-down;

-Fig. 14 is aside elevation thereof;

Fig. 15 is an end elevationyand Fig. 16 is a horizontal section through ,a modified pad box.

Referring tothe drawingsFigs; '1' and 2, the machine 16 hasa'substantially rectangularbase or footing 12 cast or'fabricated of channel iron. A pair of uprights 14, in the form of-channels, are arranged at opposite sides of the base-in spaced parallel relation with their channels facing each'other. Each of the channels has fast to its lower end a footing flange '16 which is made fast by welding or by suitable bolts to the base. Near the upper ends of the channels there is fixed a horizontal cross brace 18 (Fig. 2). Thecross brace 32% is an angle beam and has at its ends'plates 20 which engage the inner edges of the walls of the channels and are welded or bolted thereto so asto supportthecross brace rigidly in place and at the same time to hold the uprights in rigid, spaced, parallel relation. Substantially-midway between the uprights a rigid plate 22. is welded to the perpendicular face 24 of the cross brace. -mounted flat against the plate ZZ-and hasin it spaced vertical slots 28. The plates 22 and 26 are clamped together by bolts 30 which pass through holes in the plate 22 and through the slots 28 inthe plate 26. By this means vertical adjustment of the plate with reference to the cross brace 18 may be had. To assist in securing vertical adjustment a block 32 is welded or otherwise fastened to the top face of the cross brace so as to projcct rearwardly of the perpendicular face and has in it a smooth vertical hole in which is placed a screw bolt 34. The lower end of the boltB i is threaded into a boss 35 on the plate 26 so that by rotating the screw bolt plate 26 may be raised or lowered provided the bolts 30 are loose. The lower edge of the plate 26 has formed integral therewith or fastened thereto, two pairs of spaced ears 36 pierced to receive hinge pins 38 which provide bearings for a purpose which will appear hereinafter.

.A pair. of slidesilin the form of channels having sptt'cedparallcl flanges ,42 are ,mcunted between the flanges of the channel uprights 1 5 for vertical sliding movement therein. To provide for smooth sliding action bearing strips 44 and 46 are fastened to the web and flanges of the slides so as to lie between the flanges of the respective channel members as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The bearing strips 4% andudarehrade.etfasuitable :aIlIi fIIiCCiOII material,.ffor example, plorous ,metaLim- A second plate 26 is car pregnated with a lubricant such as graphite or oil or may be made of bronze and are fastened to the flanges and web of each slide 49 by bolts or other suitable means. The outer extremities of the bearing strips 44 have inturned flanges 50 which lie between the inner edges of the flanges of the slides and the webs of the uprights thus providing bearing support for both lateral and transverse thrust. The slides 40 are connected near their lower ends (Fig. 2) by atransversely extending horizontal drive bar 52 of channel shape, the latter having fastened to its ends plates which in turn-arefastenedto-tl e webs of the slides by bolts 56 as'shown inF-igs. 3 and 4, thus holding the slides 40 in fixed spaced parallel relation at their lower ends. Substantially midway between the upper and lower ends of the slides 4% there are located brackets 53 (Fig. 2) each having a flat vertical base il fastened by bolts 62 to the web of one of the slides 4:) and an. inwardly extending horizontal ledge-64, the latter forming spaced parallelelongate shelves located between the slides. The shelves 64 provide support for a pad box 66 which as thus mounted is adapted to move vertically with the slides. The pad box cs being a rigid member functions as a cross brace tying the slides together at a second place in spaced parallel relation so that together with lower crossbar 52 the slides form a rigid vertically movable frame or carriage (:7. Vertical movement of the carriage is imparted thereto by a piston. To this end a pin 68 is mounted between the Walls of the drive bar 52 and on the pin there is pivotally mounted 'pivotally supported at its lower end, as will be seen by reference to Figs. 1 and '2, by a pair of spaced ears 8i which are formed integral with its lower end, which are pierced and are journaled on a horizontally extending pin 82, theendsof which are inturn supported in bearing bosses 84 formed in the base. Thus the piston is permitted to rock sufficiently about its lower end so as to eliminate any possibility of bind ng. The piston is fluid pressure operated, the fluid being oil preferably, and to this end the cylinder is supplied with fluid from a pump P driven by a motor M, the pump'and motor being bolted to the. base. A valve V (Figs. 7, 8 and 9) is interposed etween the pump P and the cylinder for controlling the delivery of mid to the opposite ends of the cylinder, depending upon the direction of movement desired to be 'impartedto the carriage, Le details of which will be described hereinafter with reference to Figs. 7, 8 and 9, wherein the course of flow of the hydraulic fiuid is illustrated. Thus the pad box 56 may be moved vertically upwardly and downwardly.

A second pad box 5565 is mounted between the uprights 14, this latter pad box being fixed. The'pad box 86 isbolted'to a pair of brackets 83 which have fiat vertical bases 9 d fastened'by bolts 2 to the uprights and inwardly extending horizontal ledges 94 forming spaced parallel shelves on which the pad box rests and is bolted, .as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2.

The pad boxes 66 and are of the fluid pressure type F and each is designed to accommodate two shoes placed parallel to. each other with the heel ends of the shoes .facing outwardly, thatis toward the front of the machine (Fig. i),'and"the toe ends extending toward thebacl; of the machine, Each pad box (Figs. 2 and 11) comprises a rigid substantially rectangular metal box having a bottom 10% and upright walls 102 open at the top, the upper edges of the walls forming a rim over which is stretched and clamped a flexible elastic diaphragm i194. The

clamping frameltl is ofangularcross sectionin a vertical planemhaying ,a. smootbBconcavainnersnrface so as to embrace a substantial portion of the margin of the diaphragm where it is folded over the rim for anchoring the diaphragm securely in place. Bolts 108 inserted through holes in the frame and threaded into lugs on the walls of the box serve to hold the frame fast in place. Each box is filled with a fluid, preferably oil, up to the underside of the diaphragm to the exclusion of air. When the diaphragm is displaced downwardly in one place, it will swell in another since the fluid displaced by pressing on one part of the diaphragm cannot escape and hence the only place it has to go is upwardly against the underside of the elastic diaphragm. Accordingly, when two shoes are placed on the diaphragm and forced downwardly so as to sink the bottom portions thereof into the diaphragm, the portions of the diaphragm bordering the shoes swell about the edges conforming accurately to the bottom and sides and applying attaching, leveling or laying pressure thereto which is uniform over the entire surface. The shoes are placed on the diaphragm symmetrically with respect to the center line of the diaphragm and hence the diaphragm will swell uniformly with respect to the shoes. The diaphragm has the greatest freedom of movement and flexibility at its unsupported mid-portion, hence it will swell most freely at the center, affording the greatest amount of conformation at the inside of the shank portion of the shoes just Where it is wanted.

In accordance with an improvement herein it is desirable partially to support the heel end of the shoe somewhat to prevent or at least to limit the depths to which the heel end of the shoe may be pressed downwardly in the diaphragm and correspondingly to limit the upward wrap around the heel, since Wrap around at the heel is not required to the extent desired about no forepart, and in fact in some instances proves detrimental as it causes wrinkling in California type shoes where a wrapper is employed. Support with some wrap around is afforded herein (Fig. 11) by placing a block 61 of incompressible material, for example wood, in the pad box so that it occupies an end portion thereof just below that portion of the diaphragm 1 34 on which the heel is to rest. The block is suitably shaped to fit tightly in the box and its upper fiat horizontal surface falls just below the rim of the box, for example about of an inch, so that there is a shallow space between the diaphragm the surface of the block. Thus the heel may be displaced downwardly a small amount before it contacts the block and the diaphragm will swell about the heel to some extent but considerably less than that at the forepart.

In ad .ion to limiting the displacement of the heel it is desirable to limit the swell of the diaphragm so that only portions close to the perimeter of the shoes will swell. This prevents excessive fluctuation in the diaphragm and hence minimizes straining the substance thereof which adds materially to its life. To this end a rigid metal shield 65 (Figs. 10 and 11) is placed over the diaphragm. The edges of the shield may be secured beneath the rim of the box or may be attached to its inner perimeter. The central portion of the shield is cut away generally in the shape of two shoe bottoms placed side by side so as to provide a rim 67 which follows the outline of the outer sides and opposite ends of the shoes, portions 69 and 71 of the shield extending inwardly between the shoes to insure uniform swelling intermediate the shoes at both the toe and the heel ends. Preferably the shield is made so that it may be removable in order that different shields may be used for different size shoes so as to provide for appropriate swelling during the conformation pressure.

The movable pad box 66, as illustrated in Fig. 1, projects rearwardly of the vertical center line x-x of the frame and the fixed pad box 36 projects forwardly of that center line a corresponding amount so that the pad boxes are symmetrically arranged with respect to the center line x-x. A jack or hold-down 110 is fastened to the movable pad box 66 so as to be substantially vertically above the work receiving diaphragm of the pad box 86 and is cooperable with, the pad box 86 when the pad box 66 is moved downwardly to force a pair of shoes resting on the diaphragm downwardly thereunto thereby to apply conforming pressure to the bottom of the shoes. A second jack or hold down 112 is made fast to crossbar 24 so as to overlie the diaphragm with the movable pad box 66 and is cooperable with the latter when it is moved upwardly to force a pair of shoes placed therebetween to apply conforming pressure to the shoe bottoms. Thus it will be seen that the movable pad box alternately applies conforming pressure to one pair of shoes and releases the conforming pressure applied to another pair-of shoes.

The jack 110 which is carried by the movable pad box as illustrated in Fig. l, is pivotally mounted on the underpart thereof. 'As illustrated two pairs of spaced ears 114 are welded to the wall of the box in which are placed hinge pins 116. An elongate block 118 is pivotally mounted on each pin and each block in turn carries heel and toe pads 120 and 122 which are longitudinally adjustable thereon by means of atransverse screw 124. In like manner the upper jacks 112 are constituted by a pair of elongate blocks 126 pivotally mounted on'the hinge pins 38 and each block carrier heel and toe pads 128 and. 130 which are longitudinally adjustable on the blocks by traverse screws 132.- In order tohold the jacks level when not in use springs areaffixed to the block pivots at one end and at their opposite ends to the extremities of the blocks. The springs are stilt enough when undeflected to support the blocks in level positions.

The jack just described serves admirably for mens shoes, but for some womens shoes where appliques or other attachments are fastened to the forepart of the shoe the toe pad frequently crushes it. Accordingly a modified toe hold-down means (Figs. 13, Hand 15) isillustrated herein which has a two-fold purpose, namely to disattached to its concave side a piece of sponge rubber 113 faced on its inner surface with a piece of soft leather 115 which would not be damaging to a shoe upper. The convex side or upper side of the saddle has attached to .it a pair of spaced spring metal straps 117 and 119, the opposite extremities of which terminate close to the edges of the saddle and are fastened to a pair of spaced 'parallel rails 121. The rails are in turn pivoted at 123 for rocking movement about a horizontal axis to a pair of spaced parallel plates 125 which extend upwardly therefrom. The upper edges of the plates 125 are in turn pivotally fastened by pintlerods 127 to a'horizontal top plate 129 on spaced parallel horizontal axes at right angles to the axis of the rails. The pintle rods 127 extend rearwardly from the top plate 129 and through holes in a rigid bar 131 running transversely of the top plate, the ends of which are yieldably supported in vertical slots 133 formed in a pair of spaced upright posts 135, the lower ends of which are made fast to the pad box. Coil springs 137 set into the slots support the bar 131 and at the same time permit turning thereof on its longitudinal axis. The holddown is located so that the jack post for the toe block heretofore described will be situated directly above the plate 129 and may be used to force the foregoing assembly downwardly into contact with the upper of the shoe. This is accomplished by removing the conventional toe pad and substituting therefor a post i, which will be brought to bear on the plate when the jack is lowered into essence operative position. When pressure is applied to the plate -.the-hold-down will apply uniform conforming pressures to the forepart of the shoe and it will adjust itself tothe contour of the forepart byreason of the freedom of the pad itself to expand and contract and to tilt about the various axes. Normally the hold-down will rest on the diaphragm providing a saddle so that the operator has only to thrust the forepart of the shoe beneath it in order to insure proper and accurate location of the shoe on the diaphragm. One of these is provided for each shoe.

The movable pad box 66 as heretofore explained is elevated and lowered by vertical movement of the carriage, this being effected by a hydraulically driven piston to t which fluid is supplied by the pump P. The control valve V (Figs. 7, 8 and 9) has a rod r which is movable from a neutral position N to either one of two operative positions marked Up and Down. When the valve rod is moved from its neutral position to the Up position fluid is ad- --mitted under pressure to the underside of the piston and raises the same, the fluid at the upper side being expelled and returned to a'fluid reservoir R associated with the pump. 'When the valve rod is moved from its neutral position to the Down position fluid is admitted under pressure to the-top side of the piston and depresses the -same,the-fluid at'the bottom side being expelled and returned to the reservoir. When the valve rod is at the neutral position the fluid can flow in neither direction and hence the piston will be held stationary.

-On one wall of each of the pad boxes is mounted a pressure-responsive microswitch 136. The switch has a. "pressure-responsive element in it which is responsive to fluid pressure in the boxby way of a suitable connection "137 in the'wall of the box to actuate the microswitch. The microswitch is connected in a circuit C (Fig. which includes a double-acting solenoid S, and selector switch T. The solenoid is operably connected to the valve rod r (Fig. 12) in such fashion that actuation of the solenoid will return the valve V from either one of its operative positions, that is Up or Down position, to its neutral position N. The switch T has corresponding positions marked N, Up and Down so that when moved to neutral position the solenoid is actuated to move the valve V to a corresponding neutral position. As illustrated a bracket 139 is attached to the solenoid case and pivotally supports L *a bell ,crank141. ,One endof the bell crank is pivotally 'connected to the'valve rod r and the otheris connected by a link 143m thesolenoid plunger. A double-acting spring (not'shown) returns the valve rod r to its neutral position when force is, removed therefrom, and this is stiff'enoughto return the "solenoid plunger to its neutral positionwhenever it is not energized.

'Thepressure-responsive element maybe adjusted to respond to a pressure of a predetermined amount, such pressure-being selected in accordance with the character o'f 'the shoes'being operated upon, light pressures being used for'ladies shoes and the like where conforming pressures-need not be :very great, and'heavy. pressures being employed for mens work shoes, boots and so forth.

The solenoid S is double-acting as pointed out here.- tofore and is energized by movement of the selector switch T in one direction or the other, either to extend the rod r-or retract therod r. As set up the two pressure-operated switches 136-136 (Fig. 5.) are closed when the machine is not in operation. switch T from 'nEUtIEIIQQQSliiOD to Up position, a circuit is -made through the appropriate. one of the switches 136 to 'llh "S CiTiOid S which. energizes one of. the coils therein, thus-moving the valve rod r'in the direction to in turn move :the valve from a neutralposition to an Tip position, that istoadmitoil through the valve in the direction shown in Fig. 9 to raise the piston. .When

By thTOWIDg. the selector 'thepistonrreaches'the'tqp of its stroke and the predetermined pressure is reached; the switch" 1361's thrownpff, m allowing the solenoidto return to-its neutral position and the'valve to return to its neutral position, thus blocking --the-fiuid so that the pressure is maintained so long as the selector switch is not actuated. Accordingly, atthis time there is no current flow and the solenoid is de-euergized, however, since the valve is in neutral no flow of fluid can take place. if now the pressure in the pad box should fall below the predetermined amount the switchis allowed to return thus re-energizing the circuit and hence the solenoid will return the valve from its neutral position to its Up position so as to restore the pressure to the predetermined level. In order to relieve the pressure the selector switch must be moved from its Up position down through theneutral position N to the Down position. As stated above in the event that the pressure should drop oit during the application ofpressure to the shoes, the pressure switch 136 will fall back to again complete contact to the solenoid and thus admit more oil to the piston to hold it in its Up position and such action would take place repeatedly as long as the selector switch remained in its Up position. When moveent of the piston from the Up position is desired, the selector switch is lowered from its Up position through its neutral position to the Down position, whereupon the opposite winding of the solenoid is energized and the valve rod 2' is retracted so as to move the valve to the Down position. While the foregoing circuit is manually operatedit may be automatically operated according to a predetermined timing. Fig. 6 shows the circuit modified for automatic operation wherein a motor In is placed across the lines with a switch S3 movable to close the motor circuit in one position and in another position to close the manual circuit. The motor In carries a cam c which is desi ned to move the switch S4 first in one direction to close the circuit through the switch 136-Up and solenoid, to raise the piston and hold it for a five second interval and then move it to the other position to close the circuit through switch 136-Dowu and solenoid, to lower the piston and hold it for a five second interval. The timing cam may of course be designed to attord whatever intervals are desired for applying pressure.

As thus constructed operation will take place as follows: Upon movement of the selector switch to the Up position or movement of switch S4 by the time cam the fluidis delivered to the underside of the piston (Fig. 9) and the movable pad box rises carrying the shoes mounted on its diaphragm into engagement with the fixed holddowns H2 mounted on the cross member 24 so as to apply conforming pressure to the bottom portions of the shoes. When a predetermined pressure is reached the microswitch 136 is tripped, thus deenergizing the solenoid which then returns to its neutral position. In its neutral position, fluid is blocked from flowing in either direction (Fig. 8), the fluid being delivered by the pump merely circulating through the reservoir R. The pressure on the shoes will thus be maintained'until the selector switch is manually moved to the Down position or the cam reaches the Down positiomwhereupon fluid will be delivered-to the top of the piston (Fig. 7) and the movable pad boxed will descend tocause the hold-downs mounted entire-underside thereof to apply pressure to the shoes resting on the diaphragm of the fixed pad box 3d below it and at the same time to release the pressure on the shoes resting onits diaphragm. When the predetermined pressure is reachedthe'other microswitch will again be actuated so as to deenergize the solenoid whereup n th v l e-ret rn itsneutral position N and the fluid will beblocked so that the pressure will be mintained and held until the valve V is again actuated to move to the Up position.

In operation a pair of shoes with soles temporarily adhesively tacked thereto will be placed on the diaphragm of the fixed pad box and then the movable pad box will eden sase bytmanu l v t ippin th wi h .tQ-bt n the held-noun unearne -th rebyint -sas ssmc twi l '"the lasts so as to press the shoes into the surface of the the shoes against the fixed pad box the operator will now place a second pair of shoes with soles temporarily attached thereto on the diaphragm of the movable pad box and then will trip the switch to raise the movable pad box to bring the shoes resting thereon into engagement with the hold-downs 112 at the top of the frame, thus releasing the shoes resting on the lower pad box so that the shoes may be removed. Thus while one pair of shoes is being operated upon another is being loaded and when the loaded pair of shoes is ready to be operated upon, the pair of shoes previously operated upon may be removed.

As heretofore stated the pad boxes must be kept filled with fluid since the presence of small bubbles of air will produce wide variation in pressure for a given setting of the hold-down means. In order to keep track of the pressure at all times so that marked fluctuation in pressure will be immediately apparent and to permit introducing fluid and bleeding out air each pad box has a pressure gage 164 attached to it by a spigot pipe 160 which has a filling spur closed by a cap 162.

It has been found that when deep shank shoes, principally womens shoes, are placed on the diaphragm 104, there is a tendency when the hold-down is brought down into engagement with the last to break it at its knuckle joint due to the fact that the shoe when resting on the nearly horizontal surface of the diaphragm is tilted up at the toe and down at the heel. This is very pronounced when the diaphragm is new and hence is substantially level. As the diaphragm is used it soon pockets that is takes a impression of the bottom part of the shoe, the forepart of the impression being deeper than the back part so that when the shoe is placed in it, it is more nearly level. With very deep shank shoes this pocket is not sufficient, furthermore it is not desirable to wait until the diaphragm becomes broken in, and hence in accordance with another aspect of this invention it is desirable to preform the pocket, thus, by lowering the level of the fluid in the box or withdrawing a portion of the fluid from the pad box before or after the shoe is placed thereon the diaphragm may be drawn down to provide a deep pocket at the forepart and a shallow pocket or no pocket at all at the rear part in which the shoe may be placed with its sole and heel in nearly normal relation, that is with the sole at a low level and the heel elevated. The rear part of the diaphragm is held elevated by the block placed in the pad box as illustrated in Fig. 11. As thus positioned when the hold-down is brought into engage ment with the last the toe and heel pads will exert restraint which is substantially perpendicular to the sole and heel during the application of'pressure by the inflation of the diaphragm. To apply pressure the oil is restored to its original level or returned to the box to inflate the diaphragm. One way of accomplishing the foregoing is to use the pad box structure shown diagram matically in Fig. 16 in which a piston 152 and cylinder 154 are attached to an end or side of the pad box. By filling the box with fluid While the piston occupies the pad box, it is apparent that when the piston is withdrawn the level of the oil will fall by an amount corresponding to the volume of the piston. By suitable design in size of the piston the level of the oil may be lowered sufficiently to draw the diaphragm down the desired amount and it is evident that the level may be varied by the amount the piston is withdrawn. An accumulator 156 may or may not be used in conjunction with the piston and cylinder which has in it a spring backed piston 158. This piston may be draw ninto its cylinder so as to withdraw oil from the pad box thus lowering the level of the oil in the pad box and then returned to its normal position to restore the oil to the pad box. The piston and accumulator may be used independently or in combination and operation of the respective pistons may be effected by suitable cams or other linkage associated with the movable parts of the machine.

The machine as thus constructed and operated is of very simple design suitable for medium production re quirements and very effective in its operation requiring a minimum of upkeep since there are few operative parts to become worn or damaged by use. p I

It should be understood that thepresent disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes all modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims. 7

I claim:

1. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a rigid upright frame, a pad box fixed to the frame with its diaphragm in a substantially horizontal position, a second pad box mounted on the frame for vertical movement to and from the first pad box, the diaphragm of the second pad box being substantially parallel to that of the first pad box, means for effecting vertical movement of the second pad 'box, a hold-down carried by the movable pad box, said hold-down being cooperable with the first pad box when the movable pad box is in one position to hold a shoe clamped against the first pad box and when the movable pad box is in another position to be retracted therefrom, and a fixed hold-down fast to the frame, said fixed hold-down being cooperable with the movable pad box when the latter occupies said other position to hold a shoe clamped against said movable pad box.

2. Apparatus of the class described, according to claim 1 wherein the movable pad box is supported by a carriage mounted on the frame and said carriage is slidable vertically within ways on the frame, alternately to bring the movable hold-down and fixed pad box together and to bring the movable pad box and fixed hold-down together.

3. Apparatus of the class described, according to claim 1 wherein the movable pad box and associated hold-down are fast to a vertically movable carriage, ways on the frame slidably support the carriage and a hydraulically operated piston operably connected to the carriage eflects vertical movement thereof.

4. In a machine of the kind described, vertically spaced laterally off-set pad boxes, vertically spaced, laterally offset hold-down means, one of which is located opposite the operating surface of each pad box and means for effecting relative movement of the pad boxes and the holdtherebetween and to separate the other pad box and holddown means opposite it from each other to release a shoe previously operated upon.

5. In a machine of the kind described a vertical frame, vertically spaced pad boxes supported by the frame, said pad boxes being off-set laterally in opposite directions with respect to the vertical center line of the frame, spaced hold-down means supported by the frame, one opposite the work receiving surface of each pad box, one pad box and the hold-down means for the other pad box being rigidly connected and movable in unison between two extremes, one in which the movable pad box is in operative proximity to the hold-down means opposite its surface and the hold-down means associated therewith is retracted from the surface of the other pad box, and the other in which the movable pad box is retracted from the holddown means opposite its surface-and the hold-down means associated therewith is in operative proximity to the operating surface of the pad box opposite it.

6. In a machine of the kind described, spaced means between which a shoe may be placed for application of pressure to the shoe bottom, hydraulic means for effecting movement of said spaced means to and from each other, a valve having neutral and operative positions said valve being movable from its neutral position to admit.

fluid to the hydraulic means in a direction to move the opposite direction to admit fluid to the hydraulic means other, and means for automatically returning the valve 42 from one or the other of said :operative positions when the pressure reaches a predetermined maximum to said neutral position of the valve preventing flow of fluid to saidhydraulic means in either direction.

7. In a machine of the kind described, spaced means between which a shoe may be placed for application of pressure to the shoe bottom, a hydraulic cylinder including a piston, the latter being operably connected to said spaced means for effecting movement thereof to and from each other, valve means shiftable from a neutral position to either one of two operable positions for admitting fluid to one end or the other of the cylinder, a hydraulic pump jot" supplying fluid by way of said valve means to oneor the other end of the cylinder depending upon the position of the valve, means for shifting the valve to either one of its operable positions to admit fiuid to the cylinder at one end or the other, and pressure responsive means for shifting the valve to its neutral position when a predetermined pressureis reached.

8. In a machine according to claim 7 a timing cam for shifting said valve from operative to neutral position.

9. in a bottomlaying machine, work supports movable relative to each other, one of said supports having an aperture therein divided into a pair of lobes, each lobe being shaped to receive the bottom of a'lasted shoe, mold meanslocatedbeneath the lobes of the aperture in registration therewith so that shoes placed in the lobes will rest on the mold means with their upper portiqnsrising from thetopof the support, and the other support carrying heel and toe engaging elements centered above each lobe for engagement with the (lasted shoes placed on the one support, and means for eifecting relative movement of the parts simultaneously to apply bottom laying pressure to the two shoes.

References Citedin the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 211,427 Ross, Jr. Jan. 14, 1879 1,465,824 Hodges Aug. 21, 1923 1,495,163 .Casgrain May 27, 1924 1,549,243 *Winkley Aug. 11, 1925 1,805,182 Napolitano May 12, 1931 1,930,367 'Muscarel1a Oct. 10, 1933 2,004,541 Thompson June .11, 1935 2,024,696 1 Lieberman Dec. 17, 1935 2,270,941 Finn Jan. 27, 1942 2,442,167 7 Griffith May 25, 1948 2,450,068 Woodman Sept. 28, 1948 2,465,758 Sedgwick-etal Mar. 29, 1949 2,486,537 Senfleben Nov. 1 1949 ,60%;113 .zMawb y y 11952 FOREIGN PATENTS ,G IQ Q YE-r P 12,71,893 8, 034 Australia June 8, .1928

666,325.v Great Britain ,Feb. 13, 1952 

